A task force appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly last year recommended consolidating services for early childhood development into a single office, and there's a new piece of legislation that would do just that. Children's advocates Monica Murnan and David Jordan explain the proposal and how it could help.

The Kansas Legislature has renewed its attack on transgender rights with a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for those who are younger than 18.

A committee led by Rep. Brenda Landwher, a Wichita Republican, has advanced the bill — after debate on the issue was compromised by preferential treatment of out-of-state interests, transparency concerns, and misinformation from a pair of Republican lawmakers who are also physicians.

On this podcast episode, we are elevating the voices of Kansans who have been stifled along the way. They are:

Anthony Alvarez, a Loud Light fellow

D.C. Hiegert, Legal Fellow for the ACLU of Kansas

Iridescent Riffel, a co-chiar of Equality Kansas, and sometimes opinion contributor to Kansas Reflector

Sierra Club lobbyist Zack Pistora condemns legislation that would ban plastic bag bans, and gives an overview of other environmental measures up for debate under the dome.

Sean Miller, a Statehouse lobbyist working with the diverse Kansans for Conservation, says the coalition proposes the state — without raising taxes — dedicate about $50 million annually to voluntary conservation programs to protect and upgrade water and land resources.

Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone chats with Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, and Max Kautsch, a media lawyer based in Lawrence, about the landscape for journalism and free expression in the Sunflower State.

Davis Hammet, president of the voter advocacy group Loud Light and Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas warn of creeping attempts to restrict Kansas voters during a Kansas Reflector podcast, referencing multiple election bills heard in recent weeks.

Kansas Sen. Cindy Holscher and Kansas Library Association president Sean Bird talk about challenges to books in public and school collections. Holscher has introduced a bill establishing statewide requirements for consideration of requests to prohibit, ban or restrict access to library books and other media.

Kansas Appleseed Welfare Advocate Adina Morse and John Wilson, president and CEO of Kansas Action for Children talked legislative priorities for the state’s child welfare system, including the ripple effect of the state’s scarce mental health resources combined with the lack of cohesive alternatives for children who are experiencing behavioral problems.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, agonizes over the demise of Roe v. Wade and attempts by politicians to interfere with health care decisions of women.

Republican Rep. Stephen Howe of Salina marked the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol with a forceful opinion column condemning political violence and supporting the peaceful transition of power. The column was thoughtful, thorough and unexpected in today's divided political climate. Howe talks about his thoughts on the topic, as well as the new session of the Kansas Legislature.